Exploring the Significance and Complexity of Filial Gratitude in Thai Culture: A Conceptual Analysis (82917)
Session Chair: Phanomkorn Yothasorn
Saturday, 13 July 2024 10:45
Session: Session 1
Room: G20 (Ground)
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
Filial gratitude is a cornerstone of Thai culture, rooted in Buddhist teachings and regarded as a virtue signifying a good person. It plays a crucial role in community support and the social safety net, requiring children to show love, respect, and support for their parents. Despite its acknowledged importance, understanding of filial gratitude often relies on received wisdom, and its deeper dynamics are rarely examined. This study explores the complexities of filial gratitude in Thai culture, particularly in light of socio-economic changes that challenge traditional expectations and burden today's children. Understanding filial gratitude can clarify its role in maintaining intergenerational relationships and its broader ethical implications in contemporary Thai culture. This study contrasts Thai moral education, influenced by Theravada Buddhism, with Western ethical theories. While previous studies align filial gratitude with Buddhist teachings, this research applies Kantian ethics and utilitarianism to provide a secular perspective, highlighting its multifaceted nature. Kantian ethics views filial gratitude through the prism of duty and moral obligation, stressing the reverence for parents. Utilitarianism evaluates filial piety by its ability to enhance overall happiness and well-being within the family and society. These perspectives are juxtaposed with Buddhist-based understandings, which offer distinctive insights into duty and the consequences of moral actions. By juxtaposing Thai beliefs with Western philosophical perspectives, this study aims to deepen the understanding of filial gratitude as a cultural and moral phenomenon. It highlights its complexity and relevance in contemporary multicultural contexts, offering deeper insights into Thai society and contributing to global ethical discourse.
Authors:
Phanomkorn Yothasorn, Thammasat University, Thailand
About the Presenter(s)
Ms Phanomkorn Yothasorn is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Thammasat University in Thailand
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